Great British Bake Off star Jane Beedle has joined the judging panel of a contest encouraging youngsters to try their hands at baking and support a good cause.

She will have the tricky challenge of picking the region’s best young baker at the final of Buster’s Bake Off, which is now open to entries from schools.

Jane was a finalist on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off in 2016 along with Andrew Smyth and Candice Brown the latter of whom ultimately won the series.

She won millions of fans on series seven, which was the last to air on BBC One, and was much-loved by fellow contestants. Jane dazzled in the technical challenges and wowed judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with her mirror glazed cake.

“I had a brilliant time on The Great British Bake Off,” Jane said. “It gave me confidence in so many ways and was a really good laugh. One of the joys is meeting people, especially children, who were inspired by my appearance on the show.

“I would love young people to follow in my footsteps. They can get a taste of what it’s like by entering Buster’s Bake Off. It will be great fun and who knows it may be the first steps towards a career or even an appearance on the Great British Bake Off sometime in the future.”

Buster’s Bake Off challenges primary and secondary schoolchildren to raise sponsorship to bake a sweet or savoury taste sensation. The event is supported by CH and Co hospitality caterers and run by educational charity the KM Charity Team to fundraise for its road safety and literacy work with schools.

Funds will go towards initiatives Walk on Wednesday and Buster’s Book Club, which gets even the most reluctant readers excited about achieving home-reading targets and builds vital literacy skills.

Participating schools should aim to stage Buster's Bake Off heats prior to July 1 to allow judges to assess heat winners and issue invitations to the final before the end of term.

The final will be staged in September to coincide with Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off coverage on television when excitement about all things baking will be at an all-time high.

For more information, including the application form and resources to run a heat, visit www.KmCharityTeam.co.uk/busters-bake-off or contact event coordinator Hannah Hawksworth at hhawksworth@thekmgroup.co.uk or call her on 0844 264 0291.

• Jane Beedle hosts workshops with the public as part of ‘Bake with a Legend’ events and is also a garden designer. Visit www.janebbakes.com or follow her on Twitter at @Janebbakes